Founded in the late 19th century, the Alma Mater Society was the first campus-wide student society at McGill, and the chief centre of student governance and activity. In 1908, the group took on a new name – the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) – and by 1909 was recognized as the official student government of McGill.
SSMU represents the student body in different aspects of the University’s administration, and has a long history of student advocacy and engagement on important social issues across campus and beyond.
By 1968, SSMU had successfully lobbied to gain representation on the McGill Senate and Board of Governors – an effort which has given students a voice at the table to this day. The student health plan still in use today was launched by SSMU in the 1990s.
As an active student society, SSMU has been able to lobby for a number of initiatives that make McGill’s campuses more inclusive and accommodating for students. On a broad range of issues, SSMU has been a driving force in student representation and advocacy for more than a century.